Editorials

AT the opening of a new year it is customary to review the work of the preceding one, to estimate its gains and losses, and to learn from its experiences how to provide for greater usefulness and better results in the future. While it is true that experience is invaluable as an educator, Christian Science shows the need of such a knowledge of Truth as will render the mistakes of past experience unnecessary.

SOME interesting facts are disclosed by the census of church attendance recently taken in New York City, but nothing more striking was. shown than that the Christian Science denomination stands eighth in the list of twelve which exhibited sufficient numerical strength to escape the general classification "Miscellaneous," or in other words, the Christian Science churches attract to their services a greater number of persons than attend the churches of four of the older denominations.

ARTICLE XVIII. , Sect.

NEW YORK, December 6, 1903. —Regarding the rumor that Christian Scientists are planning to establish a "New Jerusalem" on the ground occupied by New Harlem, in New York City, Mrs.

At the threshold of Christmas the heart of the world is opened wide to its children, and all our hands are busied with the things they may do to multiply and sweeten the surprises of the year's dearest, because most unselfish, day. Time was when the "wee bairns" constituted a relatively unimportant factor in the home life, when they were remanded to silence, "waited for their betters," and were but infrequently accorded any special privilege; but a great change has taken place, and now, for the most part, they are not only given a chief seat in the household, but from the day when they are found nestled amid the dainty, perfumed products of a mother's sweet anticipation, to the rounding out of their dependent years, they are remembered in pleasure's every plan, and parental strength, time, and means are unstintedly placed upon the altar of their benefit or satisfaction.

As Christmas-tide approaches we are reminded of the tenacity of the human mind in clinging to the traditions and customs of the past. It is clear that mankind seldom if ever lets go of anything until ready to have it replaced by something better.

For years, the earnest attention of physicians, and students of sociology has been directed to the lamentable conditions growing out of the habitual use of morphine, cocaine, and other drugs of the same class, and to the alarming increase in their use. Regarding this increasing prevalence of the drug habit, Dr.

It would be interesting to know how many there are who appreciate the fact that we are all helping to make history, and how many estimate in my degree their obligation to posterity. While it is true that we stand "In the foremost ranks of time," we should never forget that eternity stretches out before us with glorious possibilities for the unfoldment of man's divinely bestowed capacities.

As the annual harvestings are completed and the material occasions for thanksgiving are being stored, every earnest Christian will be led to inquire, What of my spiritual gains? what of the treasures laid up this year in the chambers of character "unto life eternal"? Thoughtfulness here will lead all to see that while men have planned and anticipated that their business activities shall bring them an annual increase of wealth, and been much exercised if these legitimate expectations have not been realized, the great majority have been singularly content to have the years go by without bringing them any appreciable gain of spiritual understanding and power. A quieting solace has been found in the assurance of the attainment, at some indefinite time, of the fulness of the stature of Christ; and, in the atmosphere of this unexpectant hope, they have lived on, year after year, without any conscious spiritual growth.

The importance of the healing work in Christian Science, the healing of both sickness and sin, is a subject upon which too much cannot be said, because this healing presents the certain proof of the validity of our pretensions as Christians, and conforms to a standard by which we must be adjudged true followers of Christ Jesus. During all ages of the Christian era the healing of the sick has been conceded to be a legitimate subject for prayer.